MEASUREMENT BY THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION OF THE EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS LOAD IN INFECTIOUS-MONONUCLEOSIS AND AIDS-RELATED NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMAS

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the detection of Epstein-B arr virus (EBV) sequences in various clinical samples, especially peri pheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and serum, was carried out and the resul ts obtained were compared with specific EBV serology. One hundred seve nty patients were enrolled in the study: 89 healthy blood donors, 22 a symptomatic patients, 36 individuals with primary EBV infection (inclu ding 19 patients with infectious mononucleosis [IM]), 22 HIV-infected subjects (including 4 with hairy oral leukoplakia, 3 with central nerv ous disorders, and 15 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma). All the serum samp les from the healthy blood donors were negative. In patients with IM a nd in AIDS-non Hodgkin's lymphoma (ARNHL), PCR was strongly positive i n leukocytes (>2,000 genome equivalents/10(4) cells), which was correl ated with detectable amounts of EBV DNA in serum. The overall positivi ty rate of PCR in serum was 58.8%, 68%, and 73% of cases for non-IM pr imary EBV infections, IM, and ARNHL, respectively. In two cases of EBV primary infection, the viral DNA was detected in serum, respectively 1 month and 2 months before IgM positivity and IgG rise. In one case o f ARNHL followed up for several months, PCR (viral load of 2,000 genom e equivalents/10(4) cells) became positive concurrently with appearanc e of lymphoma. In immunocompromised individuals, PCR EBV, if carried o ut in larger prospective studies, could be considered as a tumor marke r, useful for predicting EBV-driven lymphoma and follow-up therapy. (C ) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.